Honda Fit

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Model Overview

Best known for its clever packaging, the Honda Fit is highly practical and offers more usable space than the majority of its competition. Thanks to its size, the Fit can also squeeze into small parking spaces, making it a good choice for urban driving. The Fit is also fun to drive thanks to its nimble handling and an available manual transmission.

History

Produced from 2001 to 2008, the first-generation Honda Fit didn’t arrive in the U.S. until 2006 when the North American-spec model was introduced at that year’s Detroit auto show as a 2007 model. A 109-hp 1.5-liter I-4 mated to a manual or automatic transmission was the only powertrain combination available. The car’s practicality is one of it’s highlights because you can configure it to haul cargo of all sizes. Additionally, there’s also a configuration that also lets you recline the front passenger seat back down and allows an occupant to lie down and stretch their legs.

Honda introduced the second generation Fit for the 2009 model year in North America at the 2008 New York auto show. The 1.5-liter I-4 gains a slight power increase to 117 hp while the manual and automatic transmissions have been retained. Compared to the car it replaces, the second generation Fit offers more interior space thanks to its being larger than its predecessor.

The Latest Generation

The third generation Honda Fit arrived for the 2015 model year, and compared to the second generation, the car is smaller than the car it replaces despite the wheelbase being longer. Honda also replaced the old 1.5-liter I-4 with a new direct-injected I-4 of the same displacement with 130 hp and 114 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed manual replaces the old five-speed unit while the five-speed automatic was ditched in favor of a CVT. Production of the Fit for North America has also move to a new facility in Celaya, Mexico where the HR-V crossover is also made.

In a 2015 First Test, we said that the Fit is fun to drive thanks to its revised suspension setup. The interior was spacious despite the car being smaller, overall, than its predecessor. The subcompact Fit can be equipped with navigation, heated front seats, and leather upholstery.

Why You’d Consider One

For those looking for a space efficient vehicle that’s affordable, the Honda Fit will give you all the utility you need in a package that can fit anywhere. The efficient Fit is also is also fun to drive.

Why You’d Look Elsewhere

Some may prefer the Fit-based HR-V’s crossover styling over the Fit, which carries a slightly higher base price than other subcompacts such as the Nissan Versa and Chevrolet Sonic.